Cardboard fluid container



K. KLEIN ETAL 3,407,969 CARDBOARD FLUID CONTAINER Oct. 29, 1968 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed March 6, 1967 KARL Klan v Kunr Win-MR Oct. 29, 1968 Q K T 3,407,969.

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Inventors United States Patent 3,407,969 CARDBOARD FLUID CONTAINER Karl Klein, Randstadt, Upper Hesse, and Kurt Walter, Stockheim, Upper Hesse, Germany, assignors to Hassia Verpackungsmaschinen G.m.b.H., a corporation of Germany Filed Mar. 6, 1967, Ser. No. 620,849 Claims priority, application Ggrmany, Mar. 8, 1966,

9 Claims. (Cl: 222107) ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE The container according to the invention comprises a cardboard support with an opening therein. The opening is formed by cutting out the support forming at least one flap. A thermoplastic foil is drawn through the opening and sealed onto the support adjacent the edges of the opening and also sealed to the flap. A cover foil is sealed over the opening to complete the container which is capable of standing upright.

This container can be set down in the same manner as a bottle and is therefore particularly suitable for the reception of any liquid or pasty material that is to be removed from the container by either the force of gravity or being squeezed out. This is especially true where a comparatively narrow aperture is required. The container can therefore serve as a receptacle for fruit juices, milk, salad oil, mineral oil, paints, liquid cleaning materials and other liquids or pastes.

In a preferred embodiment of this invention, the opening is formed by cutting out the cardboard support on three sides and bending out the resultant flap along the line of the fourth side. This forms a container triangular in cross section which can stand on the lower edge of the support and the lower edge of the flap.

A further preferred embodiment of the invention has a small outlet aperture near the line of the fourth side. Thus, by squeezing the lower end of the flap toward the cardboard support, a viscous fluid or paste can be forced out of the aperture. Furthermore, the natural resiliency of the foil will tend to cause the flap to return to its original position when the pressure is released. This will produce a vacuum in the container and suck in any droplets of liquid or paste on the edge of the aperture, thus preventing dripping.

For this embodiment, it is best that the foil forming the sides and bottom of the container be slightly folded inwardly (like a bellows) so that the action of the device is facilitated.

Another embodiment is provided with a flap that is bent outwardly on the bottom horizontal edge of the opening and serves to reinforce the bottom of the container. The foil is deep drawn and sealed in the same manner as in the principal form of the invention. Where the containers are stored on a rough surface or are pushed back and forth on such a surface, the foil is protected from inadvertent rupture.

This embodiment is best produced with an additional flap bent outwardly at the upper horizontal edge of the opening. A suitable tear opening for a drinking straw can readily be provided.

Containers of the type described can be produced from a web of cardboard support material. This material is punched out as desired to form the flap or flaps required by the particular form being manufactured. Since the flaps are still secured to the support by one edge, the web is its own carrier and no endless belts or the like are required.

The web together with thermoplastic foil is led to the drawing station. Here the foil is drawn through the openings in the supports and sealed to them adjacent the edges of the openings. At the same time the foil is also sealed to the flap or flaps. This leaves the container with its front face open.

The open faced container, preferably in a vertical position, is brought to the filling and sealing station. At this point the liquid is introduced through the open front face. At the same time, the cover foil is applied so that, as the container fills, the cover is sealed higher and higher on the support, until only the last fraction of an inch is left. The filling tube is then removed and the sealing co'm pleted.

In the accompanying drawings, in which like reference characters indicate like parts,

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of one form of the invention;

FIG. 2 is another view of the container shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a view similar to FIG. 2 of a second embodiment of the invention; and

FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram showing the method of manufacture of the embodiment of FIG. 1.

Referring more particularly to FIGS. 1 and 2, the container comprises cardboard support 1 having a flap 2. Opening 3 is formed by punching out flap 2 on three sides.

Foil 4 is sealed on support 1 and on flap 2 to form the sides and bottom of the container. Cover foil 5 is sealed to the front of support 1 to complete the container. Aperture 6 is provided near the top of the container as an outlet. Foil 4 is preferably provided with folds 7 at the sides and bottom to facilitate the bellows action of the container as hereinbefore described.

While any thermoplastic foil can be used, including those which are self supporting (such as polyvinyl chloride or polyethylene), one of the real advantages of this invention is that it permits the use of thin, nonself-supporting foils. Hence, air and aroma tight foils (such as polyesters) are readily used.

To assist in sealing the foil, the support can be provided with .a thermoplastic coating. The cover foil can be thermoplastic, but metal or cardboard (with thermoplastic coating) is also satisfactory. The foils can be clear, colored or opaque; and can be printed in any desired manner, as can the cardboard support and/ or flaps.

In FIG. 3, support 8 has a rectangular opening formed by punching on three sides lower flap 9 and upper flap 10. Both flaps are bent outwardly along their fourth sides. In a manner similar to the container of FIGS. 1 and 2, the foil 11 is sealed to support 8, and flaps 9 and 10. The open side of the container is sealed like that of the first embodiment. The length of flaps 9 and 10 can be varied to change the shape of the container as desired. Tear aperture 12 in flap 10 is for a drinking straw or simply an outlet analogous to aperture 6 in FIG. 2.

The production of the container of FIGS. 1 and 2 is schematically shown in FIG. 4. Production of the FIG. 3 embodiment is analogous thereto. A web of cardboard support 21 is fed into punching station 23 from supply roll 22. Preferably, support 21 has a heat scalable coating thereon. Openings are formed in the web at station 3. 23 by punching out fiaps 24 on three sides and bending them outwardly on the fourth side.

Thermoplastic foil 26, fed from roll 25, is led adjacent to the web in a vertical direction. Support 21 and foil 26 side by side enter drawing station 27. There foil 26 is sealed to support 21 and flaps 24 to form the container with an open face.

At 29, a tube fills the containers while the cover foil is simultaneously applied. As the level of liquid rises, the cover foil 31 is fed from roll 32 and pressed and sealed against the open face of the container. The completed containers are severed from the web by knives 33-.

Since filling cannot take place to the very top of the container (due-to the presence of the filling tube), positioning the containers vertically for filling is very advantageous. In this manner, the narrowest portion of the container is at the top so that the unfilled volume is kept to a minimum. Obviously, the filling of the front of the container must be carried out simultaneously and synchronized with the application of the cover foil. If desired, the container may be evacuated and/or an inert or other gas introduced.

What is claimed is:

1. A container for liquids comprising a support of substantially stiff material, an opening therein formed by the cutting out and bending of at least one flap, said support and said flap forming spaced apart edges, a thermoplastic foil forming the sides and bottom of said container, said foil being sealed to said support adjacent edges of said opening and sealed to said flap, a cover foil sealed over said opening whereby said container is capable of standing upright on said spaced apart edges.

2. A container according to claim 1 wherein there is one flap cut out of said support on three sides and hinged to said support by its fourth side.

3. A container according to claim 2 wherein an outlet aperture is provided adjacent said fourth side, said foil being flexible whereby contents of said container can be squeezed out by pressure on said flap.

4. A container according to claim 2 wherein said foil is flexible, there is a fold line on each of said sides generally midway between said support and said flap, and a further fold line on said bottom generally parallel with the plane of said support and the plane of said flap, whereby a bellows action is obtained and said sides and bottom fold inwardly when pressure is applied to said flap.

5. A container according to claim 1 wherein said openingis substantially rectangular.

6. -A container according to claim 1 wherein said flap is hingedto the lower horizontal edge of said opening and serves to reinforce the bottom of said container, a second flap hinged at the upper horizontal edge of said opening, said second flap overlaying the top of said container.

7. A method for the production of a container comprising feeding a web of. cardboard support to a punching station, punching and bending out at least one flap at said station, feeding said Web to a drawing station, simultaneously feeding a thermoplastic foil adjacent to said web to said drawing station, drawing said foil through openings in said web, whereby said foil issealed to said web adjacent said openings and sealed to said flap to form said containers, said web being fed to a filling and sealing station, said container being filled and a cover foil applied.

8. A method according to claim 7 wherein said containers are in a vertical position when filled.

9. A method according to claim 8 wherein a filling tube is inserted in said container, said cover foil being applied as said container fills up.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,682,355 6/1954 Robbins 222 107 3,263,848 8/1966 Zackheim 222-107 X 3,333,684 8/1967 Martelli 206-4531 FOREIGN PATENTS 244,443 4/1963 Australia. 1,437,667 3/1966 France.

ROBERT B, REEVES, Primary Examiner.

KENNETH N, LEIMER, Assistant Examiner. 

